Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today said that new technology and awareness among farmers is important to enhance production and productivity of crops in the State.The Minister said this after laying foundation stone Rs 1.15 crore Farm Machinery Testing and Training Centre (FMTTC) at SKUAST (K). Work on the Centre, being funded by Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, will be completed within 9 month period.Vice Chancellor SKUAST (K), Prof Nazir Ahmad Principal Secretary Agriculture Production, Sundeep Kumar Nayak, agricultural scientists and a large number of faculty members were also present on the occasion.Hanjura said that the setting up of testing and training centre in SKUAST (K) will help in testing and certification of agricultural equipments and machinery. He expressed hope that the new centre will come up to the expectations of the farmers in increasing productivity and quality of various crops.Laying emphasis on raising awareness among the farmers about scientific agricultural production and commercial crops, he said that this will ultimately enhance produce in short intervals.
On the occasion, the Minister said that Department of Agriculture is working to address concerns of farmers and providing a requisite boost to allied activities such as encouraging horticulture, dairying, fisheries, poultry and beekeeping, among others.He said various farmer-specific central and State Government schemes, like Fasal Bima Yogna, Krishi Sichayi Yogna are aimed at increasing the productivity and double farmers' income by 2022. He directed the concerned officials to conduct regular field visits so that farmers can avail their benefits.Hanjura emphasized the imperativeness to provide innovative methods in agriculture by the Agriculture Department. He said that the State has an agricultural-based economy with most of its population directly or indirectly reliant on the sector.Reiterating Government’s commitment of doubling farmers’ income, he directed the concerned officers to set annual targets and make strenuous efforts to achieve the same. He asked them to organize seminars, awareness camps, Kisan Melas and conferences on regular basis for educating the farmers about benefits of organic farming and updating them about latest technological advancements in the field.